Begin your preparations 15 minutes before worship begins. Put your robe on first thing, so that you are ready for action.
Before the service-- Check on these things:
To Do List:
Lighting the Candles
One of the acolyte's chief responsibilities will be lighting and extinguishing the candles. At the opening of the chancel railing, pause to reverence the altar by bowing the head. Walk up the steps to the altar with a smooth, natural movement. Move to a new position by turning fully toward that position and walking there without pause. Move to the right side of the altar, stand directly in front of candle #1 and light it. Move to the left side of the altar, stand directly in front of candle #2 and light it. If there are no torches during the procession, light the torch nearest the altar first, then the one nearest the font. During Advent, light the candles on the Advent wreath as the bulletin or pastor indicates.
During Easter time, for baptisms, and at funerals, the Paschal candle will be lit first. During Easter, the Paschal Candle will burn from the beginning of the morning until the end.
When lighting candles, expose sufficient length of taper so that the flame is large enough to catch the wick of the candles. Hold the candlelighter at right angles to the candle, allowing the flame to rest on the candle wick.
Following the lighting of candles, draw candlelighter toward you so that it is not over the altar, and pull taper into its metal stem, snuffing out the flame. Once snuffed out, push taper back up to ensure that the wax doesn't stick in the closed position.
Return to center of altar, again reverence the altar, descend steps and carefully place candlelighter in its place, avoiding unnecessary noise. Assume designated seat.
At Your Seat
Actively participate in the entire worship service: standing and sitting when
the congregation stands and sits, singing and helping to lead in the
congregation's responses. You are a worship leader!
When sitting or standing, find a comfortable position that allows you to keep your back straight in a good posture--without making you feel like a soldier. Keep both feet on the floor, head up, and eyes forward. Keep your knees together while sitting. (It is easy to get fidgety sometimes, but be not led into this temptation!)
Helping with the Offering
One acolyte is needed to help with the offering. At the appropriate time
(consult with pastor), move to credence shelf or altar for offering plates.
Take plates to opening of chancel railing, and wait for ushers to come down the
aisle.
Distribute plates to ushers beginning with ushers at the center. During the offering, acolyte will be seated in designated seat, and remain silent, reverent.
Helping with Holy Communion
Acolytes may commune during the singing of the Agnus Dei (the song called,
"Lamb of God") with the other worship leaders. When communion is
being distributed "by stations" (communicants receive bread while at
center aisle, then walk to sides to receive the wine), the pastors will need to
replenish the bread supply. One acolyte may hold extra bread near the pastors,
ready for the time when they need more. Another acolyte can assist the cup
bearers by bringing the carafe of wine to them when they need it.
Closing the Service
After the Dismissal (“Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!) move
to extinguish the candles in the opposite way you lit them. Extinguish torches
first, font side then altar side. Then extinguish the altar candles on the
lectern side first, then the pulpit side.
The candles on the Advent wreath are always extinguished before any other
candles in the chancel. Upon completion of this task, return to the center of
the altar, reverence altar, (single file, when there are two acolytes). Put
candlelighter in designated place. Disrobe and carefully hang vestments away.
If vestments are soiled, please bring it home to wash.
Assisting with a Baptism
When the pastor and worship assistant process to the font, follow them. If
there are two acolytes, the crucifer will lead the procession across the
chancel. If there is only one acolyte, the acolyte leads without the cross,
and then will be the book bearer. After the water bath, the procession will
move around the side aisles during the singing of a hymn once, then down the
center aisle, where the baptismal liturgy continues with prayers for the Holy
Spirit.
At the conclusion of the baptism, the acolyte should bring the baptism certificates from the credence table to the pastor for distribution during the sharing of the peace. You may always ask questions of a pastor if you are confused or wonder what to do next.
Gospel Procession
On most Sundays, high holy days, the Sundays of Easter, Pentecost, All Saints,
Reformation Sunday, Christmas, Epiphany and the occasional saint day, we
process with the book and read the gospel from the aisle.
There is usually music or a hymn that is sung during the procession. As soon as the music begins, or on a signal given to you by one of the pastors, crucifer and torchbearers move to retrieve the items, and gather in front of the altar. The crucifer (if there is one) should begin to lead the way down the aisle when the book bearer and pastor are approaching the torches and crucifer.
Lead the way to the middle point of the room, not quite half way down the aisle. The cross is turned to face the altar and the torches move to the side. The torches should line up on the book from which the gospel is read.
After the gospel is read, the pastor and book bearer move to the side, to allow the crucifer to lead the way back. Do not hesitate at the altar, but smoothly move to place the cross and torches in their stands. You may gather in front of the altar and reverence the cross and altar, and then return to your chairs.
Book Bearer
Read section titled “Before the Service.” Retrieve Lectionary Book from lectern, and make sure ribbons are marking the readings for the day. Carry the lectionary book firmly in both hands, with cross on book facing out and held just above face level. If there is no crucifer, you will lead the procession. Place the book on the lectern, and open the lectionary book to the first reading (see ribbon marking). To carry the book during the Gospel Procession, make your way to the lectern to gather the book and follow the cross in procession. The pastor will open the book and have you hold it during the reading.
Torch Bearer
Read section titled "Before the Service."
Clasp staff of torch with left hand about twelve inches above right hand. Right elbow may rest on hip for support. Carry candle so that base of candle is about eye level. Torch bearers (Usually two) follow slightly behind the crucifer, one on each side.(When in doubt, the cross always goes first.) Turn inward and place torch in its stand. Then follow crucifer to designated seat. During the service, participate with the congregation, for you are still a worship leader yourself!
If there is a procession out, while carrying torches, move to center aisle slightly behind crucifer, face congregation and wait until crucifer begins to move down aisle. Follow crucifer to rear of the nave, beginning with left foot. Snuff out torch in narthex. Place torches where designated. Disrobe and hang vestments away neatly. If vestments are soiled, notify a member of the Altar Guild.
Crucifer
Read section entitled "Before the service."
Check whether cross is securely fixed to staff. Hold staff of cross with the left hand about twelve inches above the right hand. Right elbow may rest on hip for support. Move to head of procession, and lead the procession into the church at a time designated by the pastor. At the chancel railing pause, reverence cross, then turn and place cross in its stand. Then move to designated seat. During the worship service, participate with the congregation. (See "At Your Seat").
If there is a procession out, move down to center aisle on nave level, face congregation, and wait until singing begins to move toward the center aisle. Beginning with the left foot, lead the procession to the rear of the nave. Place cross in designated spot. Disrobe and carefully hang vestments away. If vestments are soiled, please bring home to wash.
Banner or Flag Bearer
Read section titled "Before the Service."
Follow book bearer in procession. Clasp staff with left hand about twelve inches above right hand. Right elbow may rest on hip for support. At chancel railing pause, reverence cross, and pass by torch bearers and crucifer to immediately place banners in designated holders. Go to designated seats and participate in worship service.
If there is a procession out, carefully get banners or flags and follow torch bearers out. Hang banners away carefully. Disrobe and hang vestments away neatly. If vestments are soiled please bring home to wash.
____________________________________________
GLOSSARY
ACOLYTE means "companion" or "one who helps." Usually one who helps the pastor perform various tasks in the worship service. Acolytes are among the worship leaders as assistants to the whole assembly that gathers together in prayer and worship.
ADVENT means "coming." It is the first season of the church year, the time before Christmas when we prepare for the coming of Jesus. There are four Sundays in Advent.
ALB is a white robe with a collar (or amice), and a rope around the waist (also called a cincture). The rope is symbolic of the rope used to bind Jesus when he was before Herod, and the collar is to remind us of the cloth that covered Jesus' face as soldiers mocked him. The alb is worn by the crucifer, the torch bearers, banner bearers, the acolyte and sometimes, the pastor.
BANNER BEARER is the person who carries a banner or flag into and out of the church in the procession.
CANDLELIGHTER is used by an acolyte to light candles. It consists of a taper or wick from which the candles are lighted, and a bell for snuffing out the flame.
CANDLES are an important part of the Christian worship service, because God created light and Jesus said, "I am the Light."
CHALICE is the cup that holds wine for Communion.
CHANCEL is the area in the church building where the pastor leads the worship service. The altar is in the chancel, as is the railing where people commune.
CHURCH YEAR is a 12-month cycle of Christian celebration. The first season is Advent, which prepares for Christmas when Jesus was born. Epiphany is the next season, beginning when the three Wisemen see the Christ Child, including Jesus' baptism and the beginning of his ministry. Lent follows Epiphany and recalls Jesus. suffering for us. It is a time to think about baptism and rebirth in preparation for Easter, a seven-week festival which starts when Jesus rises from the dead. The Day of Pentecost and the Season after Pentecost are celebrations of the Holy Spirit active in the life of the church.
COMMUNION VESSELS are the containers that hold the bread and wine for Communion, the ciborium (see below) and chalice (see above), respectively.
CIBORIUM is the container that holds the bread for Communion.
CREDENCE SHELF is a table used for the bread and wine of Holy Communion or the offering.
CRUCIFER is the person who carries the cross, leading the procession into and out of the church.
DISTRIBUTION OF ELEMENTS refers to the pastor giving Communion to communicants. At CtK, we sometimes distribute the elements by kneeling at the altar, especially during the "penitential" (see below) seasons, and sometimes by "stations" during Easter and some other festival times of the year (and some of the summer "green" season Sundays, too). "Stations" refer to the way we have a "station" for the bread and another for the wine, and people walk to the one station and then to the other.
ELEMENTS refer to bread and wine of Communion.
EUCHARIST is a Greek word meaning "thanksgiving." It is another word for Holy Communion, the Lord's Supper.
EWER is the pitcher of water a pastor uses to fill the Baptismal font.
FONT is the bowl or basin from which water is taken during the sacrament of Baptism.
NAVE is the section of the church building where the congregation sits.
PASCHAL CANDLE is a large white candle symbolizing the risen Christ. It remains lighted from Easter Eve through Ascension Day.
PENITENTIAL refers to seasons or psalms or texts that involve expressing sorrow, or repentance for sin. Lent is the clearest example. Advent, the time of repenting of our ways and preparing to welcome the Christ-child is another.
PROCESSION is the ceremonial entry of those participating in the worship service. It is led by the crucifer or an acolyte.
REVERENCE THE ALTAR means to say a short prayer or pause momentarily in respect for the sacrifice our Lord made on the cross. This is done while standing directly in front of the altar.
SACRAMENTS are church rites (ceremonies) which use earthly elements and God's Word to bring his blessing. Two of the sacraments are Baptism and Holy Communion. The earthly element in Baptism is water; in Holy Communion the elements are bread and wine. At times, Lutherans have also included confession & absolution (forgiveness) and anointing the sick as sacraments as well.
SACRISTY is the room where the participants in the service (pastor, lector, acolyte and others) prepare for the service. CtK’s sacristy is downstairs, below the altar area.
TAPER is the long wax stem in a candlelighter, used to light the candles. It is also called a wick.
TORCHBEARER follows the crucifer in the service procession carrying a large candle.
VESSELS are the containers that hold the bread and wine for Communion, the ciborium and chalice, respectively.
VESTMENTS is a general name for clothing worn by those who participate in worship services. Vestments include an alb (the robe) and stoles, worn by ordained pastors, and chausubles, the big round garment worn by the pastor who presides at the Holy Communion.
| CtK Home
| CtK Ministry Library
|